Category Archives: Films

Set in the 1950s, The Dressmaker is a bittersweet comedy about a glamorous young woman who returns, after many years in Europe, to her small home town in rural Australia in order to right some wrongs from the past. When Tilly (played by Kate Winslet) comes home, she not only reconciles with her ailing mother Molly (played by Judy Davis) but, with her sewing machine, and haute couture style, transforms the women of the town in such a way that she gets sweet revenge on those who did her wrong. She also falls unexpectedly in love, which leads to her greatest loss and her most destructive deed.
Written and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and based on the best-selling novel by Rosalie Ham, The Dressmaker brings together a highly acclaimed cast and filmmaking team.

In a Turkish headquarters the world’s top earthworm scientists concoct a plan to find and name their ultimate discovery. Nothing will stop them as they travel to all corners of the world with spades, GPS worm locators and secret worm outing fluids to unearth their prize. But love turns savage when things don’t go to plan and the worm gets the upper hand. An epic adventure into an underground science and an unstoppable passion.

In a dark underworld of dirty deeds, vile slime and deadly pollution, scientists are exposing an animal that could help save our challenged planet – the humble earthworm. So what can it tell us about earth’s geographic evolution? Can it reverse the earth’s infertile hot spots? Can it really cure cancer? Is it the answer to toxic waste? In 2009/2010 The Worm Hunters go underground to find answers. Armed with spades, GPS worm locators, secret ‘worm ousting’ fluids, back-hoes and worm evacuators our somewhat oddball, but dedicated, scientists literally search ‘high and low’ for the world’s first Super Worm.

54 Days is an Independent Feature Film that explores how we would react to a situation where our very survival is at stake.
If you were trapped with a group of people, with food and water running out rapidly how would deal with the impossible situation where “either one of you dies or you all die”.
What would you do?
How do you decide?
It’s a decision none of us would want to face … but people have faced this situation.

During the writing process, 54 Days was heavily researched. Not only did we explore the canon of survival films but also real life examples of where individuals and groups have had to face the impossible decision of sacrifice and self-sacrifice when a group’s very survival was at stake. It was painful reading at times but in order for 54 Days to have truth in its story – truth, and horrible truth at times, needed to be examined.

The survival instinct is strong – REAL STRONG! – and it becomes stronger as we come face to face with our own mortality. It is only here that our true character reveals itself… Its only here we really see who we truly are…

In December 2005, Daniel McGowan was arrested by Federal agents in a nationwide sweep of radical environmentalists involved with the Earth Liberation Front– a group the
FBI has called America’s “number one domestic terrorism threat.”

For years, the ELF—operating in separate anonymous cells without any central leadership—had launched spectacular arsons against dozens of businesses they accused of destroying the environment: timber companies, SUV dealerships, wild horse slaughterhouses, and a $12 million ski lodge at Vail, Colorado.

With the arrest of Daniel and thirteen others, the government had cracked what was probably the largest ELF cell in America and brought down the group responsible for the very first ELF arsons in this country.

IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT tells the
remarkable story of the rise and fall of this ELF cell, by focusing on the transformation
and radicalization of one of its members.

Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thrilller, the film interweaves a verite chronicle of Daniel on house arrest as he faces life in prison, with a dramatic recounting of the events that led to his involvement with the group. And along the way it asks hard questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism.

Drawing from striking archival footage — much of it never before seen — and intimate interviews with ELF members, and with the prosecutor and detective who were chasing them, IF A TREE FALLS explores the tumultuous period from 1995 until early 2001 when environmentalists were clashing with timber companies and law enforcement, and the word “terrorism” had not yet been altered by 9/11.

Crystal, a young Indonesian girl, is in an Immigration office being questioned about her false papers and illegal refugee application. About to be sent to a Detention Centre and deported, her allegations of multiple rape and appalling captive conditions seem to make little difference to the Immigration Officer.

Brought in by human trafficking syndicates to work as prostitutes, she is one of the many modern sex slaves in Australia that are conveniently deported when they hit their ‘used by date’. Meanwhile a young Melbourne woman, Ashley Hudson, reluctantly agrees to help a Chinese mother search for her missing daughter.

As the story unravels the sinister workings of illegal prostitution and governmental deportation and is filled with twists and surprises. Inspired by actual events and Australian court transcripts.

Synopsis:
A stunning debut by Australian director Kasimir Burgess, Fell is an entrancing and enigmatic drama – a dreamlike, visually resplendent tale of nature, revenge and redemption. While on a camping trip, Thomas’ only daughter, Lara, is killed by a logging truck in a hit-and-run accident for which the driver, Luke, serves a prison sentence. Stricken with grief, Thomas sheds his urban life and his identity, and moves to the remote town where Lara was killed. There he takes on a new name, Chris, and finds work as a logger. When Luke is released from prison and returns to work, Chris connives to work as his partner in dangerously high tree-logging work. Every time Luke climbs, Chris holds his life in his hands.

Burgess has an expert handle on the proceedings, ratcheting up the tension as the two men, both damaged, grow closer through their affinity for nature. The forest, with its beautiful tall trees, is as important a character, seemingly exerting a strange power over the men. Matthew Nable and Daniel Henshall are superb as the protagonists, delicately conveying a range of emotions and subtly embodying the unsettling atmosphere the film creates. Fell marks the emergence of a distinctive new voice on the Australian film scene.

Skin Deep is an heart warming urban adventure following Leah, straight-laced and scared after being diagnosed with terminal melanoma, as she becomes lost and befriended by an unpredictable Newtown local, Caitlin. Their unlikely new friendship leads them on a tumultuous journey where both are pushed beyond their comfort zones and finally decide to choose life… while they still can.

About the Film:

Skin Deep (originally titled New Town), is inspired by Monica’s personal struggle to come to terms with being diagnosed with melanoma; should she risk everything to continue partying on the Newtown scene, or should she face facts and look after her health. With inspired creativity she split this dilemma into the stories of two young women, Caitlin and Leah. Skin Deep follows these two strangers through the streets on Newtown over 18 hours as they find the courage to face whatever may lie ahead.
When Monica told her friend Rosie Lourde, another Newtown locals, about the screen play it was obvious the film needed to be made but they had no idea the community and industry would agree so much. Starting out with no budget and their own cameras they originally planned to shoot on weekends and hoped to eventually submit Skin Deep to minor film festivals. Now, after incredible industry and community support, and a wonderful Pozible campaign, the film has been shot using the latest camera technology, with a full professional crew, is about to start post-production at Sound Firm in Fox Studios, has secured local distribution and has recently been represented at the American Film Market for international sales.
It’s been an introduction to the industry these three first time feature filmmakers could never have imagined!

Post navigation

What is The Art of Perseverance?

It's a project that studies how filmmakers in Australia persevere during the process from development through funding, production, marketing and distribution and beyond.

The average film takes seven years to make. That's a lot of perseverance.

Over 40 (and counting) of Australia's top filmmakers and industry experts have been interviewed as to how they persevered in creating their film.

These insights are being passed onto the industry at large in the hope it inspires current and future filmmakers in Australia.

The documentary and eBook will be out in 2015 accompanied by a educational outreach program, and screening tour.

This website acts as a blog, a resource and as a forum for professional and emerging filmmakers, as well as industry professionals and in-fact anyone interested in entrepreneurialism, filmmaking and perseverance.